Apparatus for feeding and cutting coiled material



J. S. STULL Sept. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1946 IAN 6711701? J. 5'. 571/14 ATTO/PA/f) Sept. 25, 1951 J. s. STULL 2,568,775

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL Filed July 8, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I l A 7 TOR/V5) J. 5. STULL 2,568,775

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL Sept. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1946 4l LZ/A ATTORNEY J. S. STULL Sept. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FEEDINGAND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 8, 1946 J. S. STULL Sept. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL Filed July 8, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. S. STULL Sept. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 8, 1946 J. S. STULL Sept. 25, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL Filed July 8, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Sept. 25 1951 1 U ITED STATES PATENT om eg:

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING COILED MATERIAL John S. Stull, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Western I V V a 1 Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 8, 1946, Serial No. 682,112

19 Claims. (01. 164-48) M :This invention relates to an apparatus for forming and assembling parts and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding a coil of wire wound in a helix, severing a portion of the coil of wire to form an annulus, assembling the annulus ontoan article, and deforming a portion ofthe article to retain the annulus thereon: r V uSome basemembers of metallic electronic vacuum tubes have a plurality of separately formed eyelets projecting therefrom and bonded thereto. To'insure that the juncture between the base member and the eyelets is air-tight, each juncture is sealed-with a brazing material ina subsequent brazing operation which, when done by hand, is very inefiicient. The brazing operation may be expeditiously performed by assembling an annulus of brazing material around each eyelet and subjecting the assembly to a brazing temperature.

#It-is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for effectively and efficiently forming and assembling parts.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a vertically reciprocable table is provided for receiving, in predetermined positions thereon, a pluralityzof articles each having a plurality of tubular eyelets bonded thereto and extending upwardly therefrom and-which tableis intermifiiQllt y rotated through 90- to align the article successively 'with various stations of the apparatusniAfone ofthe stations, the eyelets of the t 7 article are positioned'in verticalalignment'with helically wound coils of brazing wire, several con- Y v'olutions of which are fed past pairs of cutting jawswhich are actuated by the upward movement of the table to sever from the helical supply. of brazing wirethe coils thus formedby the several convolutions. The severed coils which form annuli of brazing material are guided onto the eyelets of the article and the table is rotated 90. to position the. article at thev nextstation under a compressing die which, as thetable is being moved upwar 1y, compresses the coils on the eyelets into compact form, after which the ings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof wherein Fig. 1 is areduced tus; -v Fig. 2is an enlarged front elevational viewaof the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away .and showing the table for supporting the articles thereon in its lowermost position; Fig- 3 is an enlarged plan view eta-portion of the apparatus indicated by the line 3-.3 on Fig. 2 and showing the feed table andthe upper horizontal frame plateandthe parts supported thereby;

Fig- 4 is a bottom plan section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the upper frame plate plan viewof the apparaand the parts carried thereby;

, Fig. 5 .is-a verticaltransverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the feedtable inits lowermost position; v i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plansectional view taken on the. line 66 of Fig. 5 .showingthe means for maintaining the table in angularly adjusted position; I

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalv view of the upper portion of the apparatus taken. on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the are rows and showingvv the supporting table moved upwardly toan intermediate position and showingthe supply of helically formed brazingv wire in its upper or retracted position; Fig.,,,8 is a. perspectiveview of theicompleted articleshowing the tubularelements or eyelets extending upwardly therefrom with a coil of brazing wire assembled on each of the -eyelets and showing the ends of the eyelets flared;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view of the article showing therelationbetween the eyelet and aportion of the article;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to that of 9fshowing a coil of brazing wire assembled thereon in expanded condition; V, g

:Fig. 11 isa view similar to Fig. 10 showing the coil in compressed condition and showing, in dotted lines, a die for compressing the coil;

Fig. 12 is aview similar to Fig. 11 showing the end of the eyelet flared and in engagement with the flaring tool, indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 13 a vertical transverse sectional view through the upper portion of the apparatus taken on the line |3 '-I3 of Figs. 3 and 7 and showing the article supporting table in intermediate position and showing fe'ed'tubes and the helical wire supported thereby with the tubes in their ad vanced or lower position;

azsesms Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a feed tube for feeding the brazing wire, with parts broken away, taken on the line l4-I4 of Fig. '7, showing the relationship between the article, the helical supply of brazing wire, and the feed tube therefor and showing a pair of relatively movable cutting members associated with'the coil of brazing'wire for severing it;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 4 showing the parts in changed position and showing a coil of brazing wire severed from the-'s'u-p ply and in assembled relation on the eyelet of the article; i

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary s'e'ctional'view taken on the line I6-I6 of Fig. 14 showing the relation between the cutting members and the-supply of brazing wire and showing the supply ofbrazing wire and the feed tube therefor in the upper or retracted position in full lines and in the advanced or iower position" in'dot te'd sires"; t

Fig. fl? is a fragmentary plansectiol'fal view tare-non the'lin'e '11-:n -of Fig/1 6;

Fig. 18 is a sectional View of a portion of the drive shaft; v

Fig. 19' is a view perspective on ortion of a reciprocable' actuating 'cam member;

Fig. 20 is a viewlin'p erspectiveof there'ciprocable floating rack bar;

I Fig. 2l is a View, inperspective or a latching member for latching the rack bar shown in Fig. 20 in one position; V

Fig. 22 is an enlarged front ievatioii of a portion of the machi'neshowiiigsorhe of the means for actuating theiapparatus and showing the cam b'ar illustrated in Fig. 19 in intermediate position; and

Fig. 23' 'is a plan's'ec'tioii'al view of the structure show in Fig. 22 "taken on the lirle 23-23 of Fi 22.

The ap aratus illustrated iri'tl'i accompanying drawings serves to form afidto assemble an annulus or can 25 (Fi s. 8 and 10 of several convolutions of helically'forme'd brazing wire onto tubular elemeiits hre'yelets 26 (Fig. '9) rojectinefr ma dish-shaped base member 21 or an article 28. to thee'oriifolutions of the helical coils into tight engagement-with each other (Fig. 11') and to flare the end of the eyelets (Fieim 'to prevent accidental-removal of the coil'2 5 therefrom. The" dish-shaped base member 21 of the article 25, which forms a part of a vacuum tube assembly, is berforatdat 29-2'9 to receive the eyelets 25-25, which project therethrough and are provided with flanges The flanges 30 of the eyelets ZB engage the underneath side of the member 21 and are bonded thereto by a brazing or welding operation. The number of eyelets 26 provided on the various base members 21 varies, only two being shown in the embodiment illustrated herein. I v V In a subsequent-operation, the article 28 and the annuli -25 of brazing material thereon are heated to abrazing temperature to fuse'the annuli 25 and seal the juncture between the eyelets ZG-and the base-memberll of the article 28 Generally, the present' apparatus comprises a four-station machine, at the first station of which the article 28 may be applied to anin-= termittently rotatablvandvertically reciprocable table and then moved to th'e second statiomwhere 4 it is positioned in alignment with a helical supply of brazing wire, from which the coil 25 of several expanded convolutions is severed and guided onto the eyelets 26 (Fig. 10), after which the article is moved to the third station, where'the convolutions of the severed expanded coil of wire are compressed into tight'engagment with each other (Fig. 11) after which-"operation the article is moved to the fourth station, where the eyelets 26 are moved into engagement with flaring tools (Fig. 12) to'flare the ends of the eyelets 26 and, upon-the completion of this operation, the article is moved to the first station where the completed assembly is removed.

The apparatus has a main frame 34 (Figs. 1 and 2'),'which is mounted on a base member 35 and comprises -a plurality of horizontal plates, namely, a base plate 36; intermediate plates 31 and 38, and an upper plate 39, spaced apart by and secured to a pair of vertical plates 'or walls l'll aiid'fl- The' interfiiediate platesiil a ew; 'areapertiire'd'at "mam-43 to receive a slia 1!, which has articlesupportlrigtaihle 45 iiit'e'g l'-'- ly for-med tller 'at-its' upper'nd. r

Secured to'and extending downwardly frdin the lower end of the fljai efour-supporting rods or'pins' 48,-ivhiliengage and rest on the horizontal surface 49 of asupporting member 50. The srippertiiig rod's fl re edually paced about the airis of rotationfof the-sh aft44 and re adapted ta te-engaged the nec 51 of a err zontally r'e'ciprocab'le acttfiati g -i'riember 6 bar 52 for the purpose of inde 6r rota-tingthe table through movements of in a counter; clockwise direction, as viewed from "above (Fig. 3). g

The supporting member 56 has "a cylindrical rod or shaft 55 extendingupwardlyfrom'the-sur face 49 into a recesses of the shaft-4 4 to serve as a bearing post and to maintain the member 59 in alignment withthe shaft. Aroll er 58, rotatabi mounted ona in '59, is provided "in the member 50 and ridesonthe upper surface "of'a horizontally reciprocable actuating cam member or part0 which is slidablymounted inagroove 6! in the base plate 36"aiid moves into suitable clearance "apertures'in fthevertical walls 40 and 4|. Thecam member 60, w'hen reciprocateifis adapted to raise and lower the supporting table 45 and actuate driving mechanism hereinaften warmy intoslidin'g engagementwith the-side or the cam meinber '60 to prevent rotation of the member- 50 during the operation ofthe 'a aratu's.

The actuatingmei ibe'rstrand fin (F1 alarm 2) are respectively pivotaiiy and rigidly connect-i ed to a block 63, Whihliftlfi'ii, is EOhfiCte'd one end of a piston ro 64 of a-"fluid operated actuator "55. The piston "54 'is lciploclfd throughdistances of predetermined length at a controlled rate of movement and at the end of each stroke the direction is automatically ireversed by means comprising an arm se -secured to and extending horizontally: from'the'block'fl. which arm66 alternately engages and actuates reversing valves 6? and hydraulically connected-to-the main control valve -69 to automatie caflly actuate the valve 69 and re'verse the "flow of fiuid intothe fiuid'actuator-65. d

The table 45 is provided with four circular positioning members or seats 10 equally space d aboutthe axisef rotation thereygif forreceiving and-supporting the dish-shaped articles;28 thereon withthe tubular elements 26 extend ng-tun wardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. 15, 7,-and 113,. The members 19 are apertured .att'll-llitdrclce'ive' positioning pins 12-12 vertically extendin'g therethrough, which are arranged'to receive theeye1ets'26 and position the article v2 3; in proper angular relation on the seats I6.;.The pins J2 are vertically movable and are secured at their lower ends to disc members I3, which are urged upwardly into recesses "M of themembers-u'lii by expansion springs 15 mounted in recesses in-the table45. It'will readily be seen'thatthearticles 28 may be placed on the positioning membersifl mounted on the table 45 and the :table 4.5 may be vertically reciprocatedtand in timed relation thereto rotated intermittentlysin increments of 90 :to advance the article througha complete revolution about theaxis of theitable;

. The upper plate 39 of the-frame of the apparatus is shaped and positioned to overlie three of the seats ID on the table 545 (see Fig. 39 and to'leave one of the seats I6 accessible to the operator. The accessible sea'tt'l 9 may be considered as located at station N0. 1 (Fig. '3) andv the other seats I0, following in a counterclockwise: direction, are aligned with stations Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively, ofthe apparatus.

The upper plate .39 is provided with an upwardly extending boss I6 (Figs. 7 and 13) which isapertured at l! to receive a head 'IBtslidably mounted therein and in axial .alignmentwith the seat I6 at station No.2. The headFIB comprises acylindrical block 89 fitting in the recess 1.! and an-upper flange portionB I adapted to'seat against the upper surface'82 of 'the boss I6. Apair of rods 85-65 (Fig. '7) secured to the underneath side of the flange 8| of the head 2'38, extend vertically downwardly therefrom through apertures 86-96 and terminate in enlarged :ends 81. The ends 81-61 of the rods 96-86 extendbelow the plate 39 and are spaced from the table 45 when the table is in its. lowermost position and are adapted to be engaged by the table 45 and moved upwardly thereby various predetermined amounts during the upward movement of the table. head 18 and rods 85-85 are urged downwardly by springs 88-98 interposed between the shoulders formed on the rods 85 and by the apertures 86. 'The posts .95 also prevent rotation of the headzlli.

. The. head I8 is provided with substantially vertical apertures'9c-9 i to receive rotatably and slidably therein feed tube members 95-95 (Figs. 7113,14, l5 and16) which are adapted to receive and-,frictionally support a helical supply of brazingvwireg96, from which the coi'ls or annuli 25 are formed. The feed tubes 95 extend above the -re-' cessed surface 93 of the head 18 and, at their upper ends, are provided with integral spur teeth which form spur gears I99. The spur gears I99 mesh with the internal teeth IBI of a ring gear I92 rotatably supported on the surface 98 of 'the head I6 and guided for rotary movement thereon by an annular rib. l93 fitting in anannulargroove 1.04 in the head I8. The ring-:gear [UZIiS'LDIO- vided' with external teeth I98, which mesh with a spur gear I99 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft H9, which is suitablyjournalled thezframemember 34 and which is: drivenby a mechanism later to be described. A hand wheel III (Fig. 2) is fixed to the upperendof the shaft ll 9, for manually rotating the feed tubes 95' when applying a new supply of brazingwire 96 thereto;

The teeth of the spur gear I96 are cut to. form a. helical roove 1| I2; inflthe ge r andnmv dc a The.

nclicalcam Us .on. t e upp endo each :iessi tube fi. Stationary cam members I,I 4., having obliguezand rcuate ends I I o med' o the groove 1 I2, are secured to the head I8 byma shine screws II6. The cam members II4 .coe operate with the helical cam II3 so that, upon r -tationof the gear I09, the feed tubes 95 will he moved axially up or down. It will thus beseen that, uponrotation'of the ring gear I02, the feed a llbes :95 are rotated about their own axes and movedup and down bythe member I I5 engaging inithe spiral groove I I2 to produce a helical mo tionand impart a helical feeding movementto the helical-supply of brazing wire 96.

j The brazing wire 96, as previously mentioned, is formed into a helix, the convolutions of which are=compressed into tight engagement witheach other to make the supply compact and to form,- in effect,a tube which is adapted to pass through and frictionally engage the feed tubes 95 and-be supported thereby. In order to facilitate the cuttingolT-of a portion of the supply of brazing wire 96, the lower convolutions of the helix are expanded to a predetermined spacing or pitch and, for this purpose, expanding members 120,-are provided (Figs. 14 and The expanding members I29 comprise cylindrical plugs secured in the lower ends of the feed tubes 95 and .areeproe vided withhelical peripheral grooves I2I,;into which the lower ends of the helical supply of brazing wire is threaded. The helical grooves I2I of the member I29 have the proper predetermined spacing so that the helical brazingwire 96, as it passes therethrough, is expanded to provide "the proper pitch or spacing between adjacent convolutions thereof.

Cutting means are provided for each helical supply of brazing wire to sever a coil of several. convolutions from the supply 96 and comprises stationary cutting members I 22 and movablecutting members I23 (Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 13 and 7). The movable cutting members I23 are integrally formed on and project downwardly from an annular mounting ring I24 secured to the lower end of the cylindrical block 89 by a pair of capscrews IZ5-I 25 (Fig. 7). Extending inwardly from each movable cutting member I 23 area pair of projections or jaws I2! and I28, which are obliquely disposed in the path of the helical, brazing wire 96 and spaced apart to provide a groove I29 to receive a loop of the helical wire 96 therein (Figs. 14-. to 17, inclusive). Each movable member I123 is, formed with a flat vertical surface I3I radially disposed in alignment with the axis of the helical brazing wire 96 and forms a radially disposed cutting edge I32 on the jaw member I28.

The stationary cutting members I22 are each provided with an inwardly directed obliquely disposed projection or jaw I35 normally aligned with the jaw I 23 of the movable cutting member I23 and each is disposed in the path of the helical brazing wire 96 and is adapted to fit between-a pair of adjacent convolutions thereof (Fig. 1'4). The stationary cutting members I22 are each provided with a radially disposed flat vertical face I36, which slidingly engages the surface I31 of the movable cutting members I23 and forms a cutting edge I31 on the jaw I 35 which, in cooperationwith the cutting edge I 32 of a movable cutting jaw, acts to sever the loop of the brazing wire 96 positioned therebetween when the movable cutting member I23 is moved upwardly.

As shown in Figs. 7, 13 and 17, the stationary cutting members I22 are formed integrally with and ndyo t from an annular member I38;

'tviiiciiis secured to a. mounting rih'g I39 by a pair of cap screws I40I40 (Fig. 7). The mounting ring I39 fits within the aperture 86 of the plate 39 and has secured thereto a-pair of upwardly extending spacing rods I42--I42 (Fig. 13), which pass through suitable apertures in the annular member I24 and the cylindrical block 80 and which are provided with enlarged ends I43-I43. The ends I43-I43 of the rods I42--I42 bear against a pair of horizontally disposed pins -l44- -I44 secured in the boss 16 by a pair of set screws I45--I45. A pair of springs I41-I41, interposed between the heads I43 of the rods I42 and shoulders I48 formed in the sides of the cy-' lindrical member 88, serve to urge the rods I42 and the mounting for the stationary cutting members I22I22 upwardly against the stationary pins I44. It will be apparent that with the cutting members I22 and I23 in their normal position, and with'a loop of the helical supply of brazing wire '96 'therebetween, as shown in Fig. 14, the loop interposed between the cutting edge I31 and I32 will be severed by an upward movement of the movable cutting member I23. The cutting members I22 are fixed against movement upwardly but are yieldingly mounted to permit downward movement thereof to facilitate the removal of scrap from the feed tubes.

An article 28 placed on one of the seats 10 is adapted to be positioned in alignment with the head 18 for each indexing movement of the table 45' and is arranged so that the eyelets 26 thereon and the positioning pins 13 extending therethrough are in vertical alignment with the lower ends of the coils of brazing wire 96. During the indexing of table 45, the roller 58 of the supporting member 50 rides on the horizontal surface I 50 of the cam member 60. After the table 45 has been indexed, the table 45 is elevated as the cam member 60 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the roller 58 rides up the inclined surface II. The upward movement of the table 45 is stopped with the table in a position shown in Fig. 7 while the roller 58 rides on the horizontal surface I52 of the cam member 60, in which position of the table the article 28 at station No. 2 is positioned adjacent the cut-off members I22 and I23 and the positioning pins 12 are positioned within the lowermost convolutions of the coils of the brazing wire 96 and the top surface of the table 45 engages the lower end of the rods 81.

During the dwell in the vertical movement of the table 45, while the roller 58 is riding on the surface I52 (Fig. 22), the ring gear I02 is rotated in a clockwise direction to advance each of the feed tubes 95 downwardly and feed two convolutions of each of the helices of brazing wire 96 between each of the cutting jaws I28 and I35, as shown in Figs. 14 and 1'7. As the cam member 60 continues its movement to the right, the roller 58 rides up the cam incline I53 and imparts a further upward movement to the table 45 and then rides on the horizontal surface I54 of the cam surface 60. The slight upward movement imparted to the table by the cam rise I53 is transmitted through the rods 81 to the head 18 and the movable cutting members I23 to grip a loop of each of the helical supplies of brazing wire 96 between the cutting edges I32 and I3! of the movable and stationary cutting jaws I28 and I35, respectively. While the brazing wire 96'is thus held by the cutting members, the feeding mechanism, later to be described, is operated to drive the feed tubes in the reverse direction and re- I86 on the latching member I8I.

tract them relative to the helical wire'and efiect theemergence of two convolutions of the coil from the lower end of each of the feed tubes.

The table 45 is then further elevated by the cam rise I55 on the cam member 60 to raise the movable cutting members I23 further and sever the coils 25 from the supplies of brazing wire 96 (Fig. 5). The severed coils 25 of the brazing wire drop vertically onto the eyelets 25 of the article 28, the coils being guided onto the eyelets by the guide pins 12.

The construction of the means for rotating the ring gear I82 and driving the feed tubes 65 to feed the helices of brazing wire 96 in timed re-, lation with the vertical movement of the table 45 will be apparent from the following. The ring gear I02 is driven by a gear I09 secured to the upper end of a shaft IIO,'which is 'journalled in suitable bearing apertures in the frame 34, as previously stated, and the shaft H0 is retained therein against axial displacement by collars. I51 and I58 (Fig. 2). Attached to the lower end of the shaft H0 is a gear I60 (Figs. 18, 22 and 23) meshing with gear teeth I6I of a floating rack bar I62 (Fig. 20). The rack bar I62 is provided with guide portions or flanges I63I63 and is slidably mounted in ways I64 formed in a supporting member or block I65 apertured at I66 to rotatably receive the gear I60. Collars I61 and I68 (Fig. 18) pinned to the shaft IIO aboveand below the gear I60, respectively, serve to support the member I65 vertically on the shaft IIO. Extending laterally from one end of the rack bar I62 is a triangular shaped lug I10 and at the opposite end the rack bar is formed with a cam surface I1I.

The rack bar I 62, slidably mounted in the supporting member I65, is moved toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 22 and 23, by a contractile spring I13, which is secured at one end to a stationary pin I14 and,'at its other end, to a pin I15 extending horizontally from the rack bar I62. The spring'l13, through the pin I15, also tends to turn the rack bar I62 and the supporting member I65 clockwise about the shaft H0 and moves the lug I10 of the rack bar into engagement with the side of the cam member 60 (Fig. 23) which limits the turning movement thereof. The lug I10 of the rack bar I62 slidably engages the side of the cam member 60 and is located in the path of movement of a pin I 18 extending from the side of the cam member 60.

As the cam bar moves to the right, the pin I18 thereon will engage the lug I10 of the rack bar I62 and move the rack bar to the right, as viewed in Fig. 23. As the rack bar I62 continues its movement to the right, the cam surface I1I thereon engages a stationary vertical pin I80 and cams the rack bar in a counterclockwise direction to move the lug I10 out of the path of the pin I18, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 23, and disengage the driving connection between the pin I18 and the bar I62. I

When the rack bar I62 has reached the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 23, the lug I10 is automatically engaged by a pivoted latching member I8I and is held stationary thereby until the latching member is actuated to release the rack bar. The latching member I8I is pivoted at I82 to a bracket I83 secured to the plate 36 and is urged upwardly or in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a spring-pressed plunger I84 engaging va pin The end of the latching member MI is notched to provide horizontal,v and vertical shoulders I81 and I88 (Fig. 21), respectively, which engage. the lug I10 of the rack bar I62.

This movement to the right of the rack bar I62 serves to rotate the shaft H and, through the gears I89, I02 and. I00, reversely rotate the feed tubes 95 two complete revolutions. This reverse rotation of the feed tubes 95 occurs when the table 45 has been elevated to move each of the movable cutting jaws I28 to grip a loop of the helices of brazing wire 96 against the stationary cutting jaws I35 while the roller 58 of the supporting member 50 is riding on the horizontal surface I54 of the cam bar 60. During this reverse rotation of the feed tubes 95, the helical supplies of brazing wire 96 are held stationary and the feed tubes are retracted in a helical path two complete revolutions relative thereto to efiect the spreading of two convolutions of the wire and the emergence of two convolutions of brazing wire from the lower end of the feed tubes 95.

At a later predetermined point in the 'movement to the right of the. cam member60, an actuating pawl I90 (Figs. 2 and 22) pivotally mounted on the cam member 60 will engage a cam lug I9I secured to the side of the latching member I8I and depress the latch I8I to disengage the shoulder I88 thereof from the lug I10 of the-rack bar'I62 and the rack bar I62 will then be rapidly moved to the left by the spring I13. This rapid movement of the rack bar I62 to the left will rotate the shaft H0 and, through the gears I09, I02 and I00, forwardly drive the feed tubes 95 two completerevolutions. This forward rotation of the feed tubes 95 occurs while the roller 58 of the supporting member 50 rides on the cam surface I52 of the cam bar 60 and serves to feed two convolutions of the helical supply of brazing wire 95 between the cutting jaws I28 and I35.

The members 52 and60, as previously mentioned, are reciprocated through distances of predetermined length and at a controlled rate of movement by the fluid actuator 69. On the forward or right hand movement of the cam member 60, the table 45 israised to its various levels, with the proper interval of dwell at each level, tov raise the article 28 at station .No. 2 into proximity with the supplies of brazing wire and to actuate the movable cutting members I23 to grip loops of brazing wire against the stationary cutting members I22 and hold the helical supplies of wire 96 for a predetermined interval of time and subsequently to sever coils 25 therefrom, and, in timed relation with the vertical movement of the table and the articles 28, the cam member 60, in its forward movement, acts, in cooperation with the spring I13 and other parts, to effect the recriprocation of the floating rack bar I 62 to impart rotation to the drive mechanism for rotating the feed tubes 95 to feed successive lengths of brazing wire between the cutting .jaws. On the return stroke of the cam member 60, the table is lowered to its initial starting position, as shown in Fig. 2, while the driving means for feeding the brazing wire remains idle.

During the last part of the return or left hand movement of the member 52, as viewed in Fig. 2, the hook thereon engages one of the supporting rods 48 of the shaft 44 and rotates the shaft 44 and the table 45 through an arc of 90 and stops in the position indicated dot, and

I dash lines in Fig. 23. The member 52 is guided for horizontal movement in a slot I93 in the vertical wall 40 and is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above, (Fig. 23) by a springpressed plunger I94 slidably engaging the edge thereof andyieldably mounted in a recess in the wall 40. On its forward movement, the member 52 is cammed laterally by the engagement of one of the rods 48 with the oblique cam surface I96 on the forward end of the member 52 until the surface I96 rides off the rod 48 and the member 52 is moved clockwise into engagement with the rods 48, as shown in full lines in Fig- 23. A suitable aperture is formed in the wall M to provide clearance for the member 52 during its reciprocation. I 1 I To maintain the table 45 in the various positions to which it is indexed and insure accurate alignment of the articles 28 with the various stations, the shaft 44 is provided with four equally spaced vertical V-shaped grooves 198198 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which are-adapted to receiveand cooperate with a spring-pressed detent I99 mounted in a recess 200 in the intermediate plate member 31 of the frame 34. To prevent the inertia from carrying the'table, when indexed, beyond its proper position, a drag or brake is con-'- stantly applied thereto by a plunger 202 (Fig.- 5) slidably engaging the upper surface of the table; The plunger 202 is mounted for vertical movement in a housing 203 secured to the upper hori' zontal plate 39 and is urged downwardly by an expansion spring 204 to apply a continuous pressure against the table. a I

After the coils 25 of brazing wire have been assembled on the eyelets 26 of the article 28 at station No. 2, the table 45 is indexed and the article is advanced to station No. 3. As the article 28 is moved upwardly by the table 45 at station No. 3, the expanded coils 25 on the eyelets 26 engage a compressing die 206 (Figs. 5, 4 and 3) secured to the upper frame plate 39 by a cap screw 201 and are compressed so that the convolutions thereof are in tight engagement with each other, as indicated in Fig. '11. The die 22I is provided with recesses 208 to receive and provide clearance for the eyelet members 26 and the positioning pins 12. When the table 45 is lowered and again indexed, the article 25 is positioned at station No. 4 and the eyelets 26 on the article 28 are in vertical alignment with flaring tools 2I0 (Figs. 7,' 4 and 3) secured to and projecting downwardly from the frame plate 39. The ends of the eye-' lets 26 on the article 28, when moved upwardly by the table 45, engage the tapering ends 2 of the flaring tools 2I0 and are flared outwardly thereby (Fig. 12).

A reciprocable disc 2I3v (Fig. '1) formed on the lower end of the stem 2I4 and apertured to receive the flaring tools 2I0, is engageable with the upper edges of the eyelets 26 and serves as a strippertherefor should the eyelets 26 become wedged onto the flaring tools 2I0. The stripper member 2I3 is moved upwardly by the engagement therewith of the eyelets 26 and is positively moved downwardly in timed relation with the rest of the apparatus by a lever 2I5 pivotally mounted at 2I6 in a bracket 2I1 secured to the plate 39 (Fig. 7). The lever 2I5 is actuatedb'y the engagement therewith of one end of a bar 2I8 slidably mounted in the plates 31, 38 and 39 adjacent the vertical wall 40 for vertical reciprocation. The bar 2I8 is provided at its lower end with aroller 2I9 Which-rides upon the upper horizontal surfaces 220 Jand.22I and the inclined cam surface 222 ofthebarla52 .asit is-horizontally reciprocated, to actuate'the strippermember '2 Ii3 through the bar 2L? and-the lever 2I5.

During the operation of the apparatus, the fluid actuator 61 is continuously operated and the actuating members 52 and .50 are continuously reciprocated at a controlled rate of movement to vertically reciprocate the table 45 and in timed relation thereto index the table through angular movements of 90 and, in synchronized-relation with the movements of the table, actuate the driving mechanism to feed the supplies of brazing wire ,95. An operator may apply an article 28' onto the seat I at station No. 1 with the eyelets 26 fitting around the positioning pin -72 while the table 45 'is in its lowermost position and :during its period of dwell. The table 45 is then indexed on the last portion of the return movement of the actuating member 52, which carries the article 28 to station No. 2. Another article 28 may be applied to the seat III at station No. 1. As the cam member 60 starts its move,- ment to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the roller 58 ride up the inclined surface I5I of the cam member 60 and elevate-the table 45 and raise the articles 28 at station No. 2 to the position indicated in Fig. 7, at which elevation the table will dwell as the roller 58 rides on the surface I52 of the cam 'member 60. While the table 45 is in this intermediate position and the roller 58 rides on thesurface I5,2, ,the pawl I90 (Fig. 22) and cams the latching member I8I downwardly to disengage the latch I8I from the rack bar I62 while the bar I62 is in its right hand position, as indicated in Fig. 2 in full lines and in Fig. 23 in dotted lines. The rack bar I62, under the influence of the spring I13, will be rapidly moved to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 23, to rotate the -.gear I-60 and the shaft I I0, and through the gear I09 fixed to the upper end thereof, rotate the ring gear I02 and the gears I00 of the feed tubes 95 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above. This clockwise rotation of the feed tubes 95 will advance the feed tubes and the ends of the brazing wire projecting from the lower ends thereof downwardly in a spiral path and feed two convolutions of the wire through the spaced cutting jaws I28 and I35 of the cutting members, as shown in Fig. 14.

the cam bar 60 continues its movement to r the right, the roller 58 will ride up the inclined surface I 53 to further elevate the table 45 a small amount, which movement is transmitted through the rods 81 to the head I8 to raise the movable cutting member I23 sufliciently to grip the loops of the helices of brazing wire between themovable and stationary cutting jaws I28 and I35, While the table is at this elevation and the roller 58 is riding on the horizontal surface I54 of the cam member 60 and the coils of brazing wire are firmly gripped by the cut-01f jaws, the pin I'IB on the cam member 60 engages the lug I10 of the rack bar I62 and moves it to the right to rotate the feed tube driving mechanism in the reverse direction. Thus, while the helices of wire 96 are firmly gripped and held stationary, the feed tubes 95 are reversely driven and retracted in helical paths relative to the wire ,90 to spread the coni'rolutions of the helical wires as they pass through the expanding members I and displace or uncover two convolutions of wire from each of the lower ends of the tubes 95. On completion of the reverse movement of the feed tube driving mechanism, the roller 58 rides over the cam rise I55 of the cam-member 60 and further elevates thetable 45, which upward -movement is trans.-

' mitted through :the rods -'81 to the head 18 and Iii) the seat 67.0 at station No. 1.

to the movable cutting members I23 which, in cooperation with the stationary cutting members I222, sever the lcoils '525 from the helical supplies ofJbrazing wire 96, as shown in Fig. 15. The severed-coi1s125 will be guided by the positioning pins I2 onto the eyelets '25:.of the article 28.

.on' the reverseor return movement of the cam member 60, and the member 52, the table and the article 28 .carried thereby will :be lowered and, toward the end of thereverse movement, the hook 5| of the member '52 will engage one of the sup porting rods 48 and rotate the table through an arc of The article 28 previously at station No. 2 will be advanced to station No. 3 and the article at station No. 1 will be advanced to StationNo. 2 and another article may be applied to As the actuating members 52 and .60 are moved forward on another cycle .of operation, the table 45 will be raised to move the article at station No. ,3 up.- wardly and move the coils 25 on the eyelets 26 into engagement with the compressing die 205 to compress the: coils 25 ,(Fig. 11). On the return movement cf the members 52 and 50, the table is indexed'to advance the article previously at station No, 3 to station No. 4. Another article 28 may be applied to the seat ID at station No. l and as the table is again elevated during the following cycle, the ends of the eyelets at station No. 4 onthe article 25 are moved into engagement with the flaring tools 52 I0 and flared outwardly thereby (Fig, .1 2) When the table 45 is again indexed, the article 28, with coils 25 assembled thereon, maybe removed from the seat I0 at station No. 1 and another article 28 applied thereon. Itwill be apparent that during the operation of the apparatus, articles 28 will be positioned at each of stations 2, 3 and 4 and simultaneously acted upon by the mechanism associated with each station, and at station No. 1 the assembled articles may be removed from the apparatus and other unfinished articles 28 applied thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube for frictionally supporting .a supply of material in the form of a helix, a pair of cooperating relatively movable cutting members in the path of movement of the helix and normally spaced apart to receive a loop of the helix therebetween, a reciprocable actuating mernber, reversible driving means including a reciprocable rack bar operatively associated with the actuating member for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the feed tube in opposite directions to move the helix in a predetermined helical path, means on the actuating member engageable with the rack bar for moving the rack bar and driving means in one direction, means for disconnecting the driving connection between the rack bar and the actuating member to limit the movement thereof in one direction, latching means engageable with the rack bar for holding the rack bar and the driving means at the end of movement in one direction, means for urging the rack bar andthe driving means for movement in the opposite direction, means associated with the actuating member to disconnect the latch member from the rack bar in a predetermined position of the actuating member during its movement in one direction, whereupon the rack bar and the driving means are rapidly moved her forsupporting an article. thereon in vertical movable article supporting member to raise and lower the member to various levels and move the article'into proximity to the helix whereby, as the article supporting member is raised, one of the cutting members is actuated to grip the helix against the other cutting member while the feed tube is reversely moved and then further actu ated to sever a portion of the helix.

2. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube to frictionally support a-helical element,'reversible driving means including a re-- ciprocable actuatingmember for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the feed tube in opposite directions to move the helical element in a predetermined helical path, a pair of cooper-- ating relatively movable cutting members'positioned between convolutions of the helical element and normally spaced apart to receive a convolution of the helical element therebetween, a movable supporting table for supporting a part in vertical alignment with the helical element and for actuating one of the cutting members to sever a portion of the helical element, an actuating member, cam surfaces on the actuating member for raising and lowering the table to various elevations to move the article supported thereon into proximity with the helical element andto impart interrupted movement to one of the cutting members whereby the cutting .member is sequentially moved first to grip the helical elee ment against the other. cutting member and hold it stationary While the feed tube is retracted relative thereto and later moved. to sever a portion of the helical element whereby the severed portion of the helical element is deposited on the,

article. o

v3. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube to frictionally support a helix in a substantially vertical (position, reversible drive means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the feed tube to move the helix in a predetermined helical path along a substantially vertical axis, means forholding'the helix stationary during the reverse movement of the feed tube to efiect a relative movement between the feed tube and the helix, a pair of cooperating relatively vertically movable cutting members in the path of travel of the helix and normally spaced apart to receive a convolution of the helix there; between, and a vertically movable member for supporting an article in alignment with the helix and for actuating one of the cutting members whereby said vertically movable supporting mem ber may be moved to actuate one of the cutting tools to sever a portion of the helix and toposition the article in close proximity to the helix to receive the severed portion thereof.

4. In a forming and assembling apparatuslal 6 movable feed tube -for frictionally supporting a helix having closely positioned convolutions, reversible drive means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the feed tube to advance the helix in a predetermined helical path, means for holding the helix stationary during thereverse. movement of the feed tube toefiect a relative movement between the feed tube and the helix,

of the helixtherebetween, a-movable supporting member having a positioning element for-sup porting an article in alignment-with ,thehelix, said-supporting member being movable in a path substantially parallelito the axis of thehelix toactuate one of the cutting toolsto sever a portion of the helix and to move the end of the positioning element into the helix to guide thesevered portion of the helix onto the article.

; 5. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a

move the helix in a predeterminedhelical path, 5; means for holding the helix stationary during the reverse movement of the feed tube to effect arelative movement between the feed tube and the helix, a pair of relatively movable cutting members in the .2 path of movement of the helix and normally spaced apart to receive a convolution of the helix therebetween, a movable supporting member having a positioning element for supporting an article in alignment with the helix, said supporting member being mov-l able in a path substantially parallel to the axis of helix in a helical path along a substantially vertical axis, a pair of relatively vertically movable cutting members fitting betweenthe convolutions.

of the helix and normally spaced apart forreceive ing a loop of the helix therebetween, avertically movable supporting member for positioning an article in vertical alignment with the helix and for actuating one of said cuttingmembers, and

means for moving said supporting member vertically to move an article adjacent to said helix and to actuate one of the cutting members whereby a portion of the helixlwill be severed and de posited on the article. g

'7. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a

movable feed tube for frictionally supporting a helical element, means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the tube to advance the helical element in a predetermined helical path,

a stationary cutting member positioned between a of convolutions of the helical element and nor--' mally spaced from the stationary cutting member to receive a convolution of the helical element therebetween, said movable cutting member be ing movable relative to the stationary cutting member in a path substantially parallel to the axis of the helical element for cutting the convolution of the helical element positioned therebetween to severe portion of the helical element,

reciprocable means for supporting a part thereon and for actuating the movable cutting member, and a guide member on the reciprocable- {5 means for positioning the part thereon in alignmeans associated'with the feed tube for impart- 7 ing a predetermined spacing of the convolutions of the helix as the feed tube is moved relative thereto, a pair of relatively movable cutting members in the path of movement of the helix and ment with the helical element and being movable ical element having closely positioned convolutions, reversible drive means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the feed tube to ad" t Vance the helical element in a predetermined normally spaced apart to receive aconvolution; "helical path, means for holding the helical 'ele-" ineiit stationary during the reverse-movement of the :feed' tube. to effect a, relativemovement. between the feed tubeand the helical element, and means associated with the feed tube for imparting a predetermined spacing to the convolutions oi the helical element as the :feed tube is moved relative thereto.

9. In a formingand assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube to irictionaily support a helical element having closely positioned convolutions,

between the convolutions of the element, in the path of travel of the helical element and normally spaced apartto receive a loopof the helical-element therebetween, and means foractuating one of. said cutting members sequentially to :grip the loop and hold the helical element stationary while the feed tube is retracted relatively thereto and later to sever a portion of the helicalelement.

10. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube for frictional-11y supporting a helical element therein, reversible driving means iorusimultaneously rotating and axially moving said feed tube to advance the helicalelement in a predetermined helical path, a stationary cutting member positioned between a pair of convolutions of. the helical element, a movable cutting member positioned between a pair of convolutions and. spaced from the stationary cutting member to receive a loop of the helical element 'therebetween,

and means for sequentially moving the movable.

cutting member to "grip the helical element and hold it'stationary While the -feedtube is being re'versely moved relatively thereto an'drlater to sever a portion of the helical element.

11. In a forming and assembling apparatus, 'a movable feed tube for irictionally supporting a helical element therein, means for'simultaneously rotating and axially moving the tube to :advance therhelical element in a predetermined helical path, means for retractingthe ieedtube, means for holding the helical element in its advanced position While the feed tube being retracted,

a pair of relatively movable cuttingmembers the path of travel of the helical element and.

spaced apart 'to receive a loop of the helical element therebetween, and'means :ior actuating "oneof said cutting members to sever a portion of the helical element.

'12. In a forming and assembling apparatus, a movable feed tube for frictionally supporting-a helical element therein, reversible 'driving'means,

a movable feed tube for frictionally supporting a helical element Within said feed tube for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto, means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the tube to move the helical element in a predetermined helical path, a pair of relatively movable cutting members disposed in spacedrelation tosaid feed tube and in the path of: travel of the helical element and spaced apart to receive a loop of the helical element therebetween, and means for actuating one of said cutting members to sever a portion of thehelical element.

'14. In anappara-tus of the character described, the combination of a movable feed element for supporting a helix for movement therewith and ior movement relative thereto along a predeter-z mined axis, drive means for rotating and advanc ing said feed element along said predetermined axis to advance said helix a predetermined distance through a predetermined helical path,

means iorretracting said feed element,.means.ior

holding said helix against movement while saidfeed element is retracted to effect the movement of the feed-element relative to the helix, -andcutting meansfor severing a portion oi the helix;

'15. In an apparatus of the character-described,

feeding element, means for holding said helix 7 against movement while said feed element is retracted to effect a movementof thelfeed element relative to said helix, and means for actuating said cutting means to sever aportion of-said-helix.

16. In an apparatus'of the character described, the combination of a movableieed element for. supporting a helix for movement therewith and ior movement relative thereto. along a predetere mined axis, a pair of relativelywmovable cutting.

jaws positioned in the path of movement of said helix normally spaced apart for receiving a convolution of said helix therebetween, drive means for rotating and advancing said feed element along said axis to advance said helix a predetermined distance through a predetermined helical path into said jaws and for retracting said feed element, and means for sequentially moving the cutting jaws to grip said helix to hold it against movement while said feed element is retracted and then to sever a portionlof said helix.

1-7. In an apparatuso'i the character-described, ,a movable feed element for supporting'a helix having closely positioned convolutions for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto along a predetermined axis,- drive means for rotating and axially reciprocating said feed element along said axis to advance said helix-in a predetermined helical path, means for holding the helix against movement while the feed mem her is retracted, and a spreader member on said feed element iorimpart-ingapredetermined spacing to the convolutions of the helix as the feed element is moved relative thereto. 7

l8. In an apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a .movablefeed element .fo'r

supporting a helix for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto along a predetere mined axis,'drive means for rotating and axially advancing and retracting said feedelement along said axis to advance said helix in apredeterminedhelical path, a pair of relatively'movable cutting jaws positioned in the pathof movement of said helix for receiving a convolution of the helix.

therebetween, means including a member movable into engagement with one of said cutting 15; jaws to actuate said jaws to hold saidhelix therethe combination of a movable feed element for, supporting a helix for movement therewith and between against movement while said feed element is retracted and to further actuate said jaws to sever a portion of said helix, and a guide on said member for positioning a part thereon in alignment with the helix and movable with said member into the end portion of said helix for guiding the severed portion of the helix onto said part. l

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for intermittently advancing a helix in a helical path, a pair of relatively movable cutting members positioned in the path of movement of said helix and between pairs of adjacent convolutions of the helix for receiving a loop of the helix therebetween, a movable suporting member for positioning an article in alignment with the helix and for actuating one of said cutting members, means for moving said supportill ing member to move an article thereon toward said helix and to actuate one of the cutting members to severla portion of said helix of material, and guide means on said movable supporting member for guiding the severed portion of said helix onto said article.

JOHN S. S'I'ULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

